Thermal energy storage facility in compact rock bed

摘要

Installation (1) of storage of thermal energy in a compact rock bed comprising first and second spaces (3, 4) separated by a bed (2) of individual rock units so that working fluid can flow between the spaces (3, 4) first and second by means of interstices between rock units forming the bed (2) rock in order to allow heat transfer to or from the bed (2) rock, in use, and at least one duct (21 , 22, 25) of communication associated with each of the first and second spaces so that a working fluid flows into or out of the first and second spaces, the energy storage facility being characterized by the bed (2) being rocky it is in the form of a pile (2) of rocks, the first space (3) being formed between an upper surface (5) of the pile and a enclosure having a roof (6), walls (8, 13) and a floor (11, 12) and being spaced up from the surface top of the stack (2), and the second space (4) is generally formed towards the bottom of the stack (2) of rocks, the second closed space (4) being defined by a surface of a shaped internal chamber of one or more passages or tunnels defined by a part of a lower surface of the rock pile (2) and a part of a floor (11, 12) of the enclosure and in which the lower surface of the rock pile includes a net ( 16) support and larger rocks (17) or larger rocks only to support the rocks of the compact bed and maintain the second space.